New Wave Outpost Forum

<img src="http://www.djcraig.net/elviscostello.jpg">

The rerelease of Elvis Costello & The Attraction's "This Year's Model" (Deluxe Edition) is a revelation. The newly remastered 1978 album features bonus tracks that rival or surpass the studio versions. Included are liner notes from Elvis, complete lyrics and archival photos.

Among the jewels here are "The Beat" (Live), "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" (Live) and "Watching the Detectives" (Live). Each of these versions capture an immediacy and energy not found on the album versions. The keyboards are more prominent and sound more improvised, playing off of a darker lead guitar. Elvis sounds indignant and snotty, as you would expect but with a bit more sneer in his voice.

There are 40 tracks in all on this revamped classic.

<a href="http://www.djcraig.net/los_angeles_dj">DJ Craig</a>

This is what, the 5th version of this album to be released? The original Columbia, Ryko, Rhino, probably an import or two...and a few more I'm probably forgetting...probably a Japan-only release where Elvis sings "Domo Arigato, Mr Roboto" in a session take.

I love Elvis and have all the Ryko remasters, but I'm beginning to think I will die well before the last Elvis reissue cycle occurs. Or, I will go bankrupt trying too keep up with these types of releases...

If I put on my "money-grubbing record company executive" hat, I can imagine these ways to get me to part with my money:
- 40th anniversary re-release of the album in 2018
- 50th anniversary re-release of the album in 2028
- Elvis' 75th Birthday version in 2029
- "Memorial Edition" upon Elvis' passing (may he live long!), est. 2040 (he'd be 86)

Of course each version will have (at most) one new track, be remastered by the ghosts of Elvis Presley and Lou Costello in surround sound, and have liner notes written by Pete Best in longhand but written backwards so you have to hold the booklet up to a mirror to read them.

On a positive note, his website (http://elviscostello.com/ , Media section) has podcasts of his comments on the first ten years of his recording career.

See you in the used CD section!

-pretzelbag.